2011 at a glance

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Glance IRIS BOARD of directors

CONSORTIUM developments:

Brian STUMP (Chair) Jim GAHERTY (Vice-Chair) Steve GRAND Ed GARNERO (Secretary) Susan BILEK John HOLE Doug WIENS Paul DAVIS Jeroen TROMP

Southern Methodist University Columbia University University of Texas at Austin Arizona State University New Mexico Tech Virginia Tech Washington University, St Louis University of California, Los Angeles Princeton University

New Cooperative Agreement

The IRIS 2011-2013 proposal “Facilitating New Discoveries In Seismology and Exploring The Earth: The Next Decade” was successfully reviewed and forms the basis for a new Cooperative Agreement between IRIS and NSF to continue operation of the IRIS core programs. The new agreement runs through September 2013, when a new agreement is anticipated to support the merged operation of the core programs and EarthScope/USArray.

Management Realignment

IRIS has integrated the key technical activities of the consortium under three primary elements: Instrumentation Services, Data Services, and Education and Public Outreach. These changes optimize the execution of existing activities, streamline management, and facilitate improved intra- and inter-program interactions.

OBS-IP Management Office NSF selected IRIS to manage the Ocean Bottom Seismic Instrument Pool. IRIS will form an office to manage OBSIP operations and serve as an interface between NSF, the Institutional Instrument Contributors, research principal investigators, the broader OBS research community, and the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System.

An OBSIP Oversight Committee has been formed and a search is underway for a Project Manager.

International Development Seismology

Eighty seven participants representing twenty countries convened for three days in Heredia, Costa Rica to outline priorities and opportunities for seismological capacity development in the Middle America region.

International Development Seismology is an interface between IRIS’s NSF-sponsored scientific mission and the Consortium’s goal to ensure that scientific progress enables socially important outcomes. While IRIS programs and the scope of IRIS member activities have been international from the earliest days, the Consortium is now committed

developing the partnerships, technical IDS committee infrastructure, and human capacity re- Ann MELTZER (Chair) Leigh University quired for effective international coop- Sergio BARRIENTOS Universidad de Chile Noel BARSTOW New Mexico Tech/PASSCAL eration, not only as an instrument to Susan BECK University of Arizona accelerate scientific progress through Karen FISCHER Brown University Art LERNER-LAM Columbia University collaboration with technologically equal Andy NYBLADE Pennsylvania State University University of Missouri-Columbia partners but also as an essential ele- Eric SANDVOL Niyazi TÜRKELLI Bosphorus University, Kandilli-Turkey ment of U.S. foreign engagement with developing countries. The potential to return Rebuilding for Resilience in Haiti, March 2010, Held in Miami greater scientific and societal benefits was Individual participants.................................................................120 widely recognized in responding to the 2004 Countries represented...................................................................10 Sumatra and 2010 Haiti earthquakes. IRIS Geophysical Hazards and Plate Boundary Processes in has built on this potential through training Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, October 2010, Held in Costa Rica programs, long-term loans of reconditioned Individual participants...................................................................81 instruments, and organizational workshops. Countries represented...................................................................21 These activities promote strategies that Pan American Advanced Studies Institute on New Frontiers simultaneously support fundamental re- in Seismological Research Individual participants...................................................................33 search and contribute to reducing global Countries represented...................................................................10 population vulnerability to se seismic haz- Faculty...........................................................................................15 ards through broad education.

INCORPORATED RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS FOR SEISMOLOGY

INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES Global Seismographic Network (GSN) STANDING committee Charles J. AMMON (chair) Caroline BEGHEIN Colleen DALTON Adam DZIEWONSKI Gavin HAYES Michael HEDLIN Meredith NETTLES Gerardo SUAREZ Mike THORNE Bill LEITH (ex officio) voting Shirley BAHER (obs) Harley BENZ (obs) Jon BERGER (obs) Pete DAVIS (obs) John DERR (obs) Lind GEE (obs) Charles McCREERY (Chip) (obs)

IDA engineer David Chavez adjusts an STS1 seismometer at station JTS (Las Juntas, Costa Rica). The station’s pier was rebuilt and a recording building replaced during a major renovation this year.

GSN Stations with Broadband primary seismometers............................................................153 Secondary broadband/HF seismometers.................................................125 Strong-motion sensors..............................................................................129 Borehole sensors .......................................................................................50 Microbarographs ........................................................................................75 Real-time communication ........................................................................149 GSN Stations Serving as IMS Auxiliary Stations ........................................33

GSN Stations during 2011 New stations.......................................................................................................0 Next Generation System (NGS) upgrades to date......................................... 100

Penn State University University of California, Los Angeles Boston University Harvard University USGS NEIC University of California, San Diego Columbia University, Lamont Instituto de Geofísica, UNAM University of Utah USGS AFTAC USGS NEIC Univ. of CA, San Diego Univ. of CA, San Diego USGS, Albuquerque USGS, Albuquerque Pacific Tsunami Center, NOAA

The Global Seismographic Network is a permanent telemetered network of state-of-the-art seismological and geophysical sensors. A forefront source of free and open data for seismological research and Earth Science education, the GSN is also a principal global source of data for earthquake locations, earthquake hazard mitigation, earthquake emergency response, and tsunami warning. Installed to provide broad, uniform global coverage of the Earth, 153 GSN stations are now sited from the South Pole to Siberia and from the Amazon basin to islands in the Indian Ocean, in cooperation with over 100 host organizations and seismic networks in 71 countries. The GSN is primarily operated and maintained through the USGS Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory and the University of California at San Diego IRIS/IDA group, and managed by IRIS. Twenty two GSN-Affiliate stations and arrays contribute to the network, including the nine-station USGS Caribbean Network.

Program for Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere (PASSCAL) STANDING committee Richard ALLEN (Chair) Cynthia EBINGER Katie KERANEN Jesse LAWRENCE Lee LIBERTY Doug MACAYEAL Beatrice MAGNANI Seth MORAN Meghan S. MILLER Rick ASTER (obs) Bruce BEAUDOIN (obs) Steve HARDER (obs) Frank VERNON (obs)

University of California, Berkeley University of Rochester University of Oklahoma Stanford University Boise State University University of Chicago University of Memphis USGS, Cascadia Volcano Observatory University of Southern California New Mexico Tech PASSCAL NMT University of Texas, El Paso Univ of CA, San Diego

Dozens of Texan instruments are readied for deployment.

The Program for Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere facilitates portable array seismology worldwide for diverse scientific and educational communities with end-to-end experiment support services, state-of-the-art portable seismic instrumentation, and advanced field and database management tools. Over its history, PASSCAL has supported deployment of more than 5000 stations in over 600 experiments to image plate boundaries, cratons, orogenic systems, rifts, faults, and magmatic systems. By integrating planning, logistical, instrumentation and engineering services and supporting the efforts with full-time professional staff, PASSCAL has enabled seismologists to mount large-scale experiments throughout the U.S. and around the globe. The access to professionally supported state-of-the-art equipment and archived, standardized open data has revolutionized the way that geophysical research is conducted. PASSCAL influences international academic seismology by providing instrumentation to spur or augment collaborations and by pioneering standards and facilities that have been adopted by organizations worldwide.

Number of Experiments during 2011 (including USArray FA) New experiments................................................................................................64 Ongoing experiments..........................................................................................55

Data Logger Inventory Three-channel data loggers........................................................................... 1320 “Texans” (including UTEP)............................................................................. 2683 Multichannel.......................................................................................................14

Sensor Inventory Broadband........................................................................................................769 Intermediate period..........................................................................................142 Short period......................................................................................................270

INCORPORATED RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS FOR SEISMOLOGY

INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES Polar Support Services

Polar Instrument Pool Broadband stations ......................................................................................73 Intermediate period stations ..........................................................................7 Data Acquisition Systems ............................................................................51 Hydrophones...................................................................................................1 Snow streamer channels...............................................................................84 Gimbaled 20Hz streamer Geophones...........................................................62 Summer-only quick deploy boxes ...............................................................106 Xeos Iridium modems ...................................................................................47

Polar Experiments Antarctica .....................................................................................................10 Arctic.............................................................................................................13

Bob Greschke (PASSCAL), Yoko Tono (JAMSTEC), Norlandair Pilots, Genchi Toyokuni (NIPR), and Masaki Kanao (NIPR) at ICESG.

POLAR NETWORKS SCIENCE committee Carol RAYMOND (Chair) Andy NYBLADE (Vice Chair) Doug MACAYEAL Meredith NETTLES Mike RITZWOLLER Mark FAHNESTOCK Erik IVINS Leigh STEARNS Bruce BEAUDOIN (obs) Bjorn JOHNS (obs) Tim PARKER (obs)

Polar Support Services (PSS) supports fieldwork in both Antarctica and Arctic regions and maintains a pool of specialized equipment required to successfully return data from these challenging environments.

Experiments using this pool have returned ~93% of their data this season, a vast improvement over previous years. NSF/OPP supports three FTEs to operate and maintain the pool and operate a cold chamber for testing, all housed at the PASSCAL Instrument Center. The development priorities now are instrumentation for cold/wet environments (glaciers), real time communi-

Jet Propulsion Lab Pennsylvania State University University of Chicago Lamont-Doherty (Columbia University) University of Colorado University of New Hampshire Jet Propulsion Lab University of Kansas NMT/PIC UNAVCO NMT/PIC - Polar Group

cations and ruggedizing stations for longerterm operations.

PSS also supports the Greenland Ice Sheet Monitoring Network. This international collaboration is establishing permanent observatories with open, real time data to monitor and catalog activity generated by Greenland’s glacier systems. Four new stations were installed this season and four others were visited for maintenance. A total of 33 international stations in and around Greenland now contribute open data to the IRIS DMC.

USArray

Transportable Array Stations (as of November 8, 2011) Stations commissioned.......................................................................... 1267 Stations operating.................................................................................... 477 Stations removed...................................................................................... 790

Flexible Array Systems Broadband systems.................................................................................. 346 Short period systems.................................................................................141 Single channel systems (Texans)........................................................... 1699

Magnetotelluric Systems Backbone operating.......................................................................................7 Transportable sites occupied to date....................................................... 330

Reference Network

USARRAY ADVISORY committee Matt FOUCH (Chair) Larry BROWN Roger HANSEN Karl KARLSTROM Charles LANGSTON Maureen LONG Guy MASTERS David SNYDER Donna SHILLINGTON Chester WEISS Bill LEITH (Ex officio) non voting

Arizona State University Cornell University University of Alaska, Fairbanks University of New Mexico University of Memphis Yale University University of California, San Diego Geological Survey of Canada Columbia University/LDEO Virginia Tech US Geological Survey

Operating...................................................................................................114

Operation and maintenance of USArray includes “rolling” the Transportable Array eastward across the U.S. Field crews construct, install and remove about 18 stations each month, and have moved east of the Mississippi River. The Reference Network provides a fixed “reference frame”; most of these stations are operated and maintained by the USGS, but it includes 20 long-term TA stations which provide more uniform coverage. The Array Operations Facility, located at the PASSCAL Instrument Center, supports high-resolution Flexible Array deployments that address

EarthScope’s scientific goals; over the last five years, the NSF has supported 16 major experiments that collectively have occupied thousands of sites. Magnetotelluric observations complement seismic tomography; seven permanent MT observatories span the U.S. and more than 320 temporary sites in the Pacific Northwest and mid-continent have been occupied by USArray’s campaign instruments during the past six summers.

Siting Outreach facilitates siting of USArray stations and works with numerous state and local organizations to raise awareness of EarthScope and USArray.

Sarah Hedgecock-Hanson (University of North Carolina), Pnina Miller (PASSCAL), Julia MacDougall (Brown University) and Ved Lekic (University of Maryland) perform a huddletest for Flexible Array experiment prior to deployment in Georgia.

INCORPORATED RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS FOR SEISMOLOGY

Data Services (DMS) STANDING committee

Data Archived (as of September, 2011) ..............150.6 terabytes PASSCAL ............................................................................................................42.5 GSN ....................................................................................................................19.3 EarthScope ........................................................................................................23.5 FDSN ..................................................................................................................11.1 US Regional ..........................................................................................................46 Other ....................................................................................................................8.2

Keith KOPER (Chair) Harley BENZ Mike BRUDZINSKI Matt FOUCH Rengin GOK Catherine SNELSON Zhingan PENG Dayanthie WEERARATNE Bruce BEAUDOIN (obs) Harold BOLTON (obs) Peter DAVIS (obs)

Data Shipped in 2011 (projected to end of 2011). ...157.1 terabytes Customized from Archive ...................................................................................64.1 Real Time Data Distribution ...............................................................................44.8 Web Services......................................................................................................38.8 Data Handling Interface .......................................................................................9.4

The Data Management System is one of the largest scientific archives of globally distributed observational data in the world, with data from more than 100 networks operated by US agencies and partners in more than 60 countries. Archiving and management of GSN, PASSCAL, and EarthScope data is the core mission, but collecting other seismological data remains important.

This year, 55 new datasets were received from PASSCAL experiments, OBSIP deploy-

University of Utah USGS, Denver, Colorado University of Miami of Ohio Carnegie Institution of Washington Lawrence Livermore Natl Labs University of Nevada, Las Vegas Georgia Institute of Technology California State University, Northridge New Mexico Tech USGS, Golden, Colorado University of California, San Diego

ments, FDSN networks, Regional Networks, and EarthScope Flexible Array experiments.

The DMS offers a wide and growing variety of services that Earth scientists rely on worldwide. The distribution of data via web services is being an increasingly well exercised method of interaction with the IRIS DMC. In 2010 - 2011 we sent data to scientists in 135 countries and nearly 12,800 institutions.

The IRIS DMC is in the process of using virtualized servers running RedHat Enterprise Linux and RedHat Enterprise Virtualization System software.

Education & Public Outreach (EPO) STANDING committee Glenn KROEGER (Chair) Luciana ASTIZ Bob BUTLER Maggie BENOIT Kaz FUJITA Juan LORENZO Wayne PENNINGTON Suzan VAN DER LEE Christa VON HILLEBRANDT David CARLSON (Ex officio) non-voting Steve SEMKEN (Ex officio) non-voting

EPO This Year

Trinity University University of California, San Diego University of Portland College of New Jersey Michigan State University Louisiana State University Michigan Technological University Northwestern University University of Puerto Rico UNAVCO liaison Arizona State University, Earthscope National Office

IRIS summer research interns Ado Mucek and Dwight Williams set up a PASSCAL Geode during the intern orientation at New Mexico Tech.

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Minority Recruitment Lectures for Internship Program ................................................ 6 IRIS/SSA Distinguished Lectures................................................................................12 Undergraduate summer research interns ..................................................................15 Teachable Moment slide sets or information pages ..................................................19 Total AS1 seismographs in schools .........................................................................190 Teachers and college faculty attending IRIS-run workshops ....................................250 Active Earth Monitor Displays, Page Views ...................................................3,000,000 IRIS Web site visits, unique monthly visitors ................................................6,400,000 Visitors to museums with IRIS/USGS displays ...........................................13,000,000

The Education and Public Outreach program is committed to advancing awareness and understanding of seismology and geophysics while inspiring careers in Earth science. The program draws upon the seismological expertise of IRIS Consortium members and combines it with the educational and outreach expertise of EPO staff to create engaging products and activities.

These products and activities are designed to impact 6th grade students to adults in a variety of settings, ranging from self-directed exploration using a computer, to an interactive museum exhibit, a major public lecture, or in-depth exploration of the Earth’s interior in a formal classroom.

The past year has seen a considerable increase in the impact of the EPO program through Teachable Moment slide sets produced for use in college and school classrooms within a day of major earthquakes, new animations and videos, new content for the Active Earth Monitor, and expanded use of social media. A continuing highlight is the summer undergraduate intern program where this year 15 students conducted research at 12 different IRIS member institutions.

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